For Immediate Release: Brighton Speedway Race Report 

It was a warm Saturday night to bring the opening month racing to a close on the 56th season of dirt track racing at Brighton Speedway and the action was hot on the track for Anson Construction and Gord’s Water night.  There was a good crowd on hand to watch all the great racing including the first appearance for the Gord’s Water Van-Tastics.

The first feature of the night saw the Quinte Septic Stingers hit the track for the second time this season.  Eighteen cars would start the feature event and at the end of the 12-lap affair it was the veteran Stinger driver #95 Jorden Pickell picking up his first checkers of the year.  Pickell was followed across the line by #51 Matt French, #26 Chris Sparks, #27 Kendal Hase and #03 Dylan Barker respectively for the top five. 

The Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks would be next to hit the 1/3rd mile clay oval for their 20-lap feature event.  It was the #9 of Josh Black that would lead the field to green and get the jump out of the early lead however third starting #19 Cory White would challenge Black early on and the two would have a seesaw battle back and forth for the lead position.  The two raced side by side for the opening 9 laps until #03 Justin Ramsay made the move on the two leaders after a restart.   Ramsay would not look back as he would go on to lead the next 11 laps and claim the victory.  Starting from sixth, 2022 #0 Tyler French would finish second followed by White, #88 Patrick Easton and #17 Jeff Humphry.

 The Gords Water Van-Tastics were up next, and it was a battle of grocery getters making their way around the dirt track.  Del MacGregor in the Soccer Mom Special Toyota Sienna would start at the back but wasted no time getting to the front.  Del was assisted by is Passenger / Navigator Wendy Dadson to navigate slower traffic as he wasted no time picking up the checkers in the first Van-Tastic race of the season.  MacGregor and Dadson were followed across the line by the Chicken Barn Racing entry of Jack and Rebecca Juby!

The Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified’s had plenty of action right from the opening lap.  Lap one of the even would see a little jingle between #32 Doug O’Blenis and #41 Corey Halbert.  The two would be able to continue but would need to go to the rear of the field.    This restart would allow #1 Shawn Gregory to take advantage of the high side of the track and move to position one on lap two.  Gregory would not go unchallenged as last weeks winner #40 Ron Wadforth would search high and low for the fastest line as he paced Gregory down.  And although Wadforth got close a few times he was not fast enough on this night as Gregory would lead the rest of the laps to claim his first victory of 2023.  Wadforth would finish second, followed by a nice recovery from O’Blenis to take home third.  Rounding out the top 5 was #2 Leslie Mowat and Halbert.  

Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models hit the track next, and it would be the #05 James Seymour and #11 of Kyle Sopaz leading the field to green.   Seymour would get the early jump and lead the first three laps until caution flew for #73 of Anthony Rinaldi hitting the wall.  On the next restart Seymour was not so quick and it was Sopaz that got the jump of the restart and would work his way around the high side to clear Seymore.  Two laps later #46 Brandon Mowat would clear Seymour and set his sights on Sopaz, and the racing was tight as they hit lap traffic. #89 Austin King, #5 Steve Baldwin and #3 Nate Rinaldi would all join the battle in the top five, but it was Sopaz who managed to keep the top spot even when challenged during a few late race cautions.  These cautions although making it very tight, did not alter the outcome of the race and the top five did not change with Sopaz picking up his first win of 2023 followed by Mowat, King, Baldwin and Rinaldi. 

The last feature of the night was the Bill’s Johns Comp 4 division.  It was Carter Rhodes in the #18 putting his mini stock up against the more powerful field of fourteen Comp 4 cars for the evening and he would be lucky enough to start on the poll position.  Rhodes would lead the first few laps, but the power of #44 Tommy Bailey and #42 Aiden Fletcher would start to show by lap 5 as they worked their way around Rhodes.  Bailey and Fletcher would battle side by side for the 15-lap affair and it was Bailey who narrowly squeaked out the win over Fletcher, Rhodes, #19 Shannon White and #37 Terry Blight. 
 

This upcoming weekend kicks off the month of June with Fan Appreciation.  A favourite for both drivers and fans together, Lambert Construction & Concrete along with Brighton Tire and King Automotive host a night filled with excitement.   Adult admission is only $15, and you can purchase your tickets for this Saturday’s event at the gate or online at brightonspeedway.ca.  Also racing will be the Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modifieds. Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks, Bill’s Johns Mini Stocks and Bill’s Johns Comp 4’s.  Front Gates open each Saturday at 5:00 pm. 

ATTENTION RACE FANS! The Workman OK Tire SCHOOL BUS RACES are back Saturday, June 17th.  Be sure to go ONLINE TO PURCHASE your seat NOW.  School Bus events traditionally sell out, so you don’t want to miss out on this excitement.   

Brighton Speedway Social Media: Follow Brighton Speedway’s Official Social Media Accounts Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrightonSpdwy Twitter: @BrightonSpdwy Instagram: @BrightonSpdwy  

About Brighton Speedway: Brighton Speedway is a 1/3-mile clay stock car racing oval located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Brighton, Ont. The speedway hosts five weekly stock car divisions on Saturday nights from May to September. Brighton Speedway mailing address: 775 County Road 64, Brighton, ON, K0K 1H0 

 

Photos by Rod Henderson, CanadianRacer.com 

 

  1. Late Model racing at Brighton Speedway on Saturday nights is full of excitement and action as No 11 Kyle Sopaz practically led the 30 lap main event from start to finish. 
  2. Side by side racing action on Saturday night at Brighton Speedway, No. 1 Shawn Gregory took the checkered flag ahead of No. 50 Dylan Boyle. 
  3. The Gord’s Water Van-Tastics are as entertaining as they are hilarious, with No. 19 veteran Del MacGregor taking his grocery getter to victory lane once again. 

 

 

Feature Finishes, May 27, 2023 

Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models 

1 11 Kyle  Sopaz 

2 46 Brandon Mowat 

3 89 Austin King 

4 5 Steve Baldwin 

5 3 Nate Rinaldi 

6 77 Caley Weese  

7 33 David Vandertoorn 

8 39 Rob Hood 

9 5 James Seymour 

10 73 Anthony Rinaldi 

11 41 Ryan Lambert 

Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified 

1 1 Shawn Gregory 

2 40 Ron Wadforth 

3 32 Doug O’Blenis 

4 2 Leslie Mowat 

5 41 Corey Halbert  

6 5 Wally Alderdice   

7 50 Dylan Boyle 

8 26 Bob Green 

9 51 Mike Freeman 

10 36 Mitch Rosborough 

11 9 Dan Price 

 

Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks 

1 3 Justin Ramsay 

2 0 Tyler French 

3 19 Cory White 

4 88 Patrick Easton 

5 9 Josh Black  

6 73 Jason Preece 

7 11 Cole  McKeown SUB ZEKE McKEOWN 

8 97 Dave Barrett 

9 3 Paul  Read 

10 23 Doug May 

11 74 Mike Lucas 

12 17 Jeff Humphry  

13 6 Bill OHara 

14 79 Chris Hale 

15 6 Chris Hackett 

16 16 Kaitlyn O’Blenis 

17 8 Angie Kirby 

18 27 Torri Pope 

Bill’s Johns Comp 4 

1 44 Tommy  Bailey 

2 42JR Aidan  Fletcher 

3 18 Carter  Rhodes 

4 19 Shannon White  

5 20 Cody Sager 

6 15 Josh Bogaard 

7 55 Zach Humphry 

8 77 Curtis Chamberlain 

9 1 Scott Simpson 

10 97 Robert Jenner 

11 91 Jaiden  Miller 

12 37 Terry Blight 

13 34 Bailey Kippen SUB COLE SANDERCOCK 

Quinte Septic Stinger Division 

1 93 Jorden Pickell 

2 51 Matt French 

3 26 Chris  Sparks 

4 27 Kendal Hase 

5 3 Dillon Barker 

6 30 Ryan  Hill 

7 67 Alex  Patrick  

8 9 Zac MacDonald 

9 95 Nicole Deveau 

10 64 Chris  Johnson 

11 8 Curtis Sparks 

12 44 Rai-Ann  Beaudrie 

13 29D Cody  Easton  

14 69 Andrew Whitney 

15 66 Ray Davies 

16 6 Tom Cole 

17 47 Josh Sparks 

18 12 Shane Vale 

 

KART RESULTS

"Thursday June 15th"
Kart # Name
Box Stock 1
1 797 Luke Cuthbertson
2 29 Deegan Sudsbury
3 37 Ella Wannamaker
4 11 Bentley Fulton
5 03 Luke Ramsay
6 68 Gunner Ellis
7 39 Lucas Wannamaker
8 5 Liam Baldwin
Box Stock 2
1 29 Lily Walters
2 92 Race Turner
3 77 Max Van Dyk
Rookie 1
1 87 Weston Mitts
2 15 Charlotte de Wal
3 48 Knoxin Wells
4 07 Conor Vancott
Rookie 2
1 88 Reagan Grimmon
2 14 Chase White
3 08 Lilly Ray
4 2 Liam McPeak
5 54 Rae-lynn Branscombe
6 10 Hanna Merry
JR Sportsman 1
1 01 Blake Gregory
2 7 Tate Black
3 19 Bentley Davidson
4 15 Liam Pakenham
5 23 Alby Hodkinson
JR Sportsman 2
1 629 Thomas Mcgale
2 20 Aj Peeters
3 91 Jackson Veenstra
4 31 Brody Davidson
5 99 Bryce Massey
JR Restricted/Stock Lite
1 1 Coleson Gregory
2 89 Kolby Ellis
3 22 Nolan  Chatten
4 99 Jonelle Burke
5 14 Holden Paul
6 9 Cooper McKeown
7 70 Finley Mahoney
8 18 Elliot Stacey
Thursday, June 1st
Kart # Name
Box Stock 1
1 797 Luke Cuthbertson
2 29 Deegan Sudsbury
3 37 Ella Wannamaker
4 11 Bentley Fulton
5 3 Luke Ramsay
6 68 Gunner Ellis
7 39 Lucas Wannamaker
8 5 Liam Baldwin
Box Stock 2
1 29 Lily Walters
2 92 Race Turner
3 77 Max Van Dyk
Rookie 1
1 87 Weston Mitts
2 15 Charlotte de Wal
3 48 Knoxin Wells
4 7 Conor Vancott
Rookie 2
1 88 Reagan Grimmon
2 14 Chase White
3 8 Lilly Ray
4 2 Liam McPeak
5 54 Rae-lynn Branscombe
6 10 Hanna Merry
JR Sportsman 1
1 1 Blake Gregory
2 7 Tate Black
3 19 Bentley Davidson
4 15 Liam Pakenham
5 23 Alby Hodkinson
JR Sportsman 2
1 629 Thomas Mcgale
2 20 Aj Peeters
3 91 Jackson Veenstra
4 31 Brody Davidson
5 99 Bryce Massey
JR Restricted/Stock Lite
1 1 Coleson Gregory
2 89 Kolby Ellis
3 22 Nolan  Chatten
4 99 Jonelle Burke
5 14 Holden Paul
6 9 Cooper McKeown
7 70 Finley Mahoney
8 18 Elliot Stacey

KART POINTS